John Pelham

Life Legacy

John Pelham, age 88, died Saturday, January 17, 2009 at Bothwell Regional Health Center.

He was born on March 13, 1920, to Samuel Clay and Aileen Douglas Pelham, in Anniston, AL.

He attended Auburn University, where he was a member of Kappa Alpha fraternity.

He enlisted in the Army following Pearl Harbor, serving in Europe in the 71st Infantry, and in the aftermath, testified at the trials at Nuremberg.

He returned to Auburn after the war, earning a BS in Industrial Engineering.

On July 7, 1947, he married Marianna Landrum, who died in 1984. They had two children, John Pelham, Jr. and Deborah Pelham Bruns.

Mr. Pelham worked at J. A. Lamy Mfg. for nearly 50 years, serving as manager and treasurer.

He was a member of Kiwanis and Rotary.

He served as trustee of the Mae Ilgenfritz Trust for nearly 30 years, awarding scholarships to many Sedalia college students, and benefiting the Childrenâs Therapy Center, where he served as a board member, and president.

He was a member of the Pettis County Development Corporation, also serving as president.

He served on the Whiteman Area Steering Committee.

He was the executor of the Elizabeth D. Yeater Estate, funding State Fair Community Collegeâs first permanent building, named for his wifeâs grandfather, and was on the Board of Directors of the college, and later on the schoolâs foundation board, serving as president.

He was a long time volunteer with the Bothwell Hospital Auxiliary.

In 1986, he married Katherine Keller. She predeceased him in 1990. Mr. Pelham was a long time boating enthusiast, and had traveled to five of the seven continents.

Mr. Pelham is survived by his sister, Mary Ivey, of Jasper, AL; his son, John Pelham, Jr, of Las Vegas, NV; his daughter, Deborah P. Bruns, of Gravois Mills; three grandchildren, Jami Bruns, of Houston, TX, Douglas Andrew Bruns, of Los Angeles, CA, and David G. Bruns, of Shenzhen, China; three nephews, Douglas Ivey, of Austin, TX, William Ivey, of Nashville, TN, and Joel Ivey, of Orlando, FL.

According to the wishes of the deceased, there will be no funeral or memorial services.

Donations may be made to the Childrenâs Therapy Center or to State Fair Community College.